Apparatus for distributing solid material



Septl2, 1944- A. c. BEARDSLEE APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING SOLID MATERIAL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 8, 1941 INVENTOR v ARTHUR C Emma/.55 BY W f TTORNEY p 944. I A. c. BEARDSLEE 2,357,853

APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING SOLID MATERIAL Filed April 8, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mlm l IIIm.

INVENTOR THUR 6. BEARDSLEE TTORNEY Patented Sept. 12, 1944 APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING SOLID MATERIAL Arthur C. Beardslee, Arcade, N. Y., assignor to The Borden Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation 01' New Jersey Application April 8, 1941, Serial No. 387,433

10 Claims.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my-application Serial No. 192,486, filed February 25, 1938, which matured into Patent 2,336,461, issued December 14, 194 3.

The invention relates to a drying process and apparatus, and more particularly to means for distributing finely divided solids over the surface of a film or partly dry material undergoing drying.

In the usual process of roller or drum drying, carried out either at atmospheric pressure or under a partial vacuum, the material to be dried in the form of a concentrated liquid is fed to the surface of one or more heated rolls which are rotated slowly. This film of material on the roll ordinarily becomes dry before one revolution of the roll is completed and is scraped from the roll in dried form by a doctor blade. Many materials, however, are very difficult to dry by this economical method because after they are partially dehydrated, they become sticky and the dehydration is arrested by the physical character of the partly dried film that is formed. It

is very difficult to scrape such materials from the roll and when they are removed, they frequently cool to form a hard rock-like mass. This is particularly true with respect to such materials as whey and other materials containing a high proportion of melassigenic salts.

Various proteinaceous materials present a similar difficulty in drying, one good example of which is the wash water obtained from the preparation of flsh products and known as stickwater or fish stick. This wash water when concentrated is high in colloidal proteins that alter considerable resistance to drying on a heated drum or roll. 1

In my copending application Serial No. 192,486, a method of overcoming the difilculty of drying such materials on a drum or roll is described and claimed. This method involves the application of finely divided solids oi the same or a different composition to a partially dried film of material while it is being dried on the drum or roll. In the case of materials being dried that contain quantities of melassigenic salts, I believe finely divided solids uniformly over the surface 7 of v a roll in spite of steam and warm airvcurrents rising from the heated roll.

Other objects .will be explained and will be apparent from a description of two embodiments of this invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a partially diagrammatic end 'ele-- vation showing a preferred form of solids distributor arranged for operation over the surfaces of two drums of a double roll dryer. I

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through approximately the center of the solids distributing apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view of the ap-,

paratus, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

- Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view showin an operating cam for the apparatus, and taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Figure 5 is a fractional view 01 the apparatus,

partly in section, taken on the line 54-5 of Fig. 2.

Figure 6 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through approximately thecenter of a modifled 'form of distributing and depositing apparatus.

Figure? is a vertical sectional view of this modified apparatus, taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 6. e

Figure 8 is a tractional side elevation of a modification oi the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 to 5.

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view on the line 9-4 of Fig. 8.

the effect of adding the finely divided solids .is to initiate crystallization or serve as a seeding material and thus change the physical character Figure 1 illustrates one iorm of the apparatus as applied to a' double roll dryer in which the rolls or drums l0 and H are located side by side and rotated simultaneously in opposite directions.

With such a construction, it is convenient to supply the liquid to be dried to the roll surfaces just below the pinchf thereof. As these roll surfaces move upwardly and away from each other carrying the material being dried, the finely divided solids carried in the tube 12 are distributed over the surfaces 01 this material on the rolls III and II, falling'by gravity out through the distributing chamber I3.

The tube I2 carrying the finely divided solids to be distributed may be conveniently supported in a fixed position above the roll surfaces by means of the fixed block I4 at one end and. the bracket I5 at the other end. The ends of tube I2 may be closed by thebearing blocks I6 and IT. A suitable screw conveyor I8, arranged for rotation within the tube I2 may have its shaft journaled at one end inthe blockv I4 and bearing block I6, and in the bracket I5 and bearing block IT at the other end. Rotation of the screw conveyor may be obtained from any suitable source of power (not shown) by means of the chain I9 and the sprocket wheel 20 keyed to one end of the conveyor shaft.

Solids to be distributed may be supplied to the directly on the outer surfaces of the tube .I2.-so.

that the remainder of the casing 24 is spaced therefrom. Attached to the sides of the casing 24 on each side of the opening 25 at the bottom thereof are the laminated walls-21 and 28 of the distributing chamber I3. These walls may be composed of two sheets of metal with a suitable layer of insulating material therebetween. At their upper edges, the walls 21 and 28 may be welded, riveted or otherwise secured to the casing 24, and converge downwardly therefrom so that a slot is formed between the flanges 30 and 3| at their lowermost edges. tributing chamber I3 may be closed by end walls 32 and 33 suitably attached to the side walls 21 and 28. A pivotally suspended distributing chamber is thus provided, adapted to swing back and forth around the tube I2,and so arranged as to receive all of the solids falling through the slot 23 in the tube I2.

To assist in the operation of the device and prevent steam rising from the rolls from clogging .this solids'distributor, warm air or unheated air under a slight pressure may be introduced into the distributing chamber I3 through a flexible hose or pipe 34 attached to end wall 32.

Suitable provision may be made'for swinging the distributor chamber I3 back and forth. For,

example; the rod 35, reciprocated by a crank or any other suitabledriving means (not shown), may have one end pivotally attached, as at 36, to the bearing block 31 fixed to the end wall 33.

An agitator mechanism for the ,slot between The ends of the dis- 2,357,868 I p I v agitator bar 42' may be reciprocated' longitu. dinally through anarcuatepath by means of the operating arm 44 pivotally f connected as: at 45- to one of the vertical links:: :40;;:. The operating bar 44 projects through an openin in the end v j wall 33 and a suitable small opening'inthe bearing block 31, and carries on itsouter end a roller follower 46.

Clamped to the tube I2 atlone- .,e'nd'*of the distributing chamber "I3; and -preferably outside 1 thereof, is a fixed bracket-41,.providedwitha curved and inclined groove of track 48 in which and is inclined with respectto a plane passed at right angles through tube I2 in order to impart a longitudinally reciprocating motion to the arm 44 as chamber I3 swings back and forth.

In the operation of this device, the liquid to be dried is fed to the heated rollsurfaces In and II, and is carried on these'surfaces upwardly and outwardly away from each other. Finely divided solids to be deposited on this film of material being dried are fed from a hopper or other suitable source by gravity through the inlet 2I to the screw conveyor I3 in tube I2. This screw conveyor is rotated in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figures. 1 and 3, to advance the solids alongthejtube I2 toward the l exit 22 Finely divided solids suitable for distribution fall through the slot 23-intodistributor chamber I3. The, solids that .are too large and any excess solids are moved alongthrough tube I2 until they are dropped out "through the exit 22 where they may becollected.

Reciprocation of the rod 35 swings the.dis-

tributor chamber I3 back and. forth pendulum fashion through an arcuateipath, indicated by the curved line 43, above the surfaces of the rolls I0 and II. As the distributor chamber I3 swings back and forth, the roller follower 4tv reciprocat- Air heated or unheated supplied to the distributor I3 through the hose 34 preventssteam from the rolls from condensing inside the distributor I3 and clogging the apparatus.

A somewhat simplerform of distributing and depositing. apparatus is illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 and may consist of a feed'hopper 50 located above the surfaces of the rolls I0 and II in place of the tube I2 and distributor-chamber I3 shown in Fig. 1. This feed'hopper 50 may be conveniently constructedwith inclined; side walls 5I, 52 connected near theirlowerportions vby an armflanges 30 and3l may also be provided'consisting of several bands 38, three of which are illustrated in .the'drawings, surrounding the. tube I2 in sliding, engagement. The lower ends ,ofthese annular'bands 38' may be pivotally connected by means of the rivets 39 to swinging links 40,.and the lower ends of the links 40 are pivotallyconate section 53 provided witha longitudinally ex Irh ends-of the hopper may'f e, closed -by'suitabletending slot. 54 in itslowermost portion.

end walls 55.

This hopper, which-may be openat its'top or covered, is provided-with a,shaft--.5B rotatably 4 mounted, in suitable bearings" 51 attached to the" end walls 55. Insidethe hopper, shaft 58 is] provided with a helical screw conveyor 58 which is 9 disposed generally concentric with the lower ar-;

cuate portion 53 of the hopper. Oneend of the shaft 56 outside of the hopper 50 may be provided with a sprocket 59 driven by means of a chain 60 from an electric motor SI.

A reciprocating cleaning member 62 for the slot 54 may be provided with a-pin section 63 projecting downwardly through the slot 54 and with a collar and head portion 64 adapted to ,slide along the upper surface of the walls of slot 54. A groove may beform'ed in the head portion 64 of the cleaning member 62 in which the to drop through the slot 54. The .cleaning member 6| reciprocates back and forth through this slot, preventing any clogging thereof by reason of the moist air and steam rising from the drying rolls. If desired, the hopper 50 may be closed in a manner similar to the distributor I3 and provided with warm air or unheated air under pressure to prevent any steam from getting into the hopper 50 through the slot 54.

Suitable means may be provided, if desired, for varying the width of the slot in the solids distributing apparatus to control the rate of flow of the solids therethrought Oneform of adjusting mechanism for this purpose is illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9 as applied to the embodiment of my invention shown in Figs. 1-5.

In this modification, the tube III carrying the screw conveyor I8 is fixed to the distributing chamber I3 and rotates therewith about its central longitudinal axis as the distributing chamber is rocked back and forth. The mechanism for rocking the distributor chamber, and for operating the agitator bar can be the same as described above, except that a suitable fixed support is provided for the bracket 41 instead of clamping this bracket to the tube I0,

The tube I has a longitudinal slot along its lower surface between'the sharpened edges II and I2. -A number of relatively narrow spring clips I3 are fixed to the tube' III on one side of the slot and extend across the slot.

Mounted on the outside of the apparatus are a suitable number of bearing brackets 14 rotatably supporting the shaft 15. A number of links I are fixed to this shaft at intervals opposite the spring clips 13, and are pivotally connected at their lower ends to the wedges I1. These wedges 11 extend through openings 18 in the wall of chamber I 3 into positions between the slot edge-Hand the spring clips I3.

Rotation of the shaft I5 may be effected by means of the hand operated lever 19 that may be provided with a slotted extension sliding over the stud 80 in order to clamp'the lever in any given position by tightening the screw 8|.

The slot in the bottom of tube I0 may thus be widened to increase the flow. of solids. therethrough by rotating the shaft I5 in a counter.-'

clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 9. This causes the links Hi to swing in an arc towards the chamber I3 which'moves the wedges 11 into a canted position with the points of the wedges on these pockets forces the edges II and I2 farther apart to form a wider-slot for the passage of solids.

When this pressure of the wedges I1 is released, the natural resiliency of the tube I0 tends to move the edges II and I2 towards eachother, thus narrowing the slot again.

. The terms and expressions which I have employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and I have no intention, in the use of such terms and expressions, of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but recognize that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for depositing finely divided solids comprising a container for said solids havin an elongated opening in the lower portion thereof, means for supplying a gas under low pressure to the inside of said container for passage out through said opening, movable means projecting through said opening for preventing clogging thereof and ensuring a fiow of said solids through said opening by gravity, and means for reciprocating said movable means back and forth in said opening.

2. Apparatus for distributing finely divided solids over a surface comprising a distributing chamber with a longitudinal discharge opening in its lower portion mounted for pivotal movement about a longitudinal axis near the upper portion thereof, means for swinging said chamber back and forth about said axis, means operating in said opening to prevent clogging thereof, and means actuated by the swinging of said chamber for reciprocating said last named means in a direction longitudinally of said chamber and opening,

3. Apparatus for distributing finely divided solids over a surface comprising a container for solids having a discharge opening therein, a pivotally suspended distributor chamber arranged to receive solids from said opening, an elongated solids distributing slot in the lower portion of said chamber, and means for swinging saidchamher back and forth in a direction transverse of said slot to disperse the solids discharged therefrom.

4. Apparatus for distributing finely divided solids over a surface comprising a container for solids having a discharge opening therein, a pivotally suspended distributor chamber arranged to receive solids from said opening, a solids distributing slot in the lower portion of said chamber, means for swinging said chamber back and forth to disperse solids discharged from said slot, and agitating means projecting into the slot for maintaining a steady passage of solids therethrough.

5. Apparatus for distributing finely divided solids over a surface comprising a container for solids having a discharge opening therein, a pivotally suspended distributor chamber arranged to receive solids from said opening, a solids distributing slot in the lower portion of said chamber, means for swinging said chamber back and forth to disperse solids discharged from said slot, and an agitator bar movable longitudinally of said slot for preventing clogging thereof.

6. Apparatus for distributing finely divided solids over a surface, a tubular member having a longitudinal opening in the bottom thereof, conveyor means in said member for moving solids along over said opening, a distributing chamber pivotally suspended from said member to receive solids therefrom, means forming a slot in the lower portion of said chamber, means for swinging said chamber back and forth, and means movable in said slot,- for preventing clogging thereof.

7. Apparatus for distributing finely divided solids over the surface of partially dried material on a drum dryer which comprises a chamber supported above such drum in a position to deposit finely divided solids thereon, aid chamber having a long narrow opening in the bottom thereof extending in the direction of the drum, means for supplying air under a low pressure to the interior of said chamber, means projecting through said opening to prevent clogging thereof, and means for moving said projecting means back and forth longitudinally of said opening.

8. In apparatus of the character described, a hopper for finely divided solid material, a slot in a lower portion of said hopper for discharging said material, a screw conveyor in said hopper adjacent said slot, power means for driving said conveyor, a cleaning member adapted to slide in said slot upon actuation by said conveyor, and means at the ends of said slot operated by said member for reversing thedirection of driving of said power means. i

9. Apparatus for distributing finely, divided solids over the surface of partially dried material on a roll comprising a container for solids located above such roll and having an elongated slot in the bottom thereof, a screw conveyor in saidcontainer adjacent said slot, a cleaning pin. projecting through said slot having a sliding contact with said conveyor, and means for rotating said conveyor to agitate solids in the container and move said pin along said slot.

10. Apparatus for distributing finely divided solids over a surface comprising means forming an elongated chamber with a long narrow opening in the bottom thereof, means suspending said 

